To continue my rereading Austen series (find my blog on Sense and Sensibility here), here are my thoughts on Austen’s second novel, and my favourite, Pride and Prejudice. I’ve been rereading it in conjunction with writing a lecture on it, which has meant that more so than ever, I’ve been thinking about the novel in…
Continue reading ➞ Rereading Jane Austen | Pride and Prejudice
Inspired by reading about others rereading Jane Austen in the order of publication, and the fact I began 2021 with a head full of Bridgerton (both the Shondaland show and the eight Julia Quinn novels that I binge-read in about two weeks) and Regency history books, I decided it was time to return to Austen’s…
Continue reading ➞ Rereading Jane Austen | Sense and Sensibility
On this day in 1815, the Prince Regent, the future George IV, received a specially bound copy of Jane Austen’s novel “Emma”, which had been dedicated to him. The Prince Regent was definitely not a favourite of Austen’s – she once wrote that she supported his estranged wife, Caroline of Brunswick, against him – which…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | Austen, “Emma” and the Prince Regent
On this day in 1817, Jane Austen’s final two novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion”, were first advertised for publication posthumously. They were published together, along with a Biographical Notice of the Author, written by Austen’s brother, Henry Austen. Throughout her writing career, Austen had published anonymously, so this was the first time her identity had…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion”
Happy 245th birthday to my favourite author of all time, Jane Austen. Born in Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16th 1775, the seventh child (and second daughter) of George and Cassandra Austen, she went on to write six full novels, two incomplete novels, a short epistolary novel and several notebooks full of juvenilia, not to mention…
Continue reading ➞ My 10 favourite Jane Austen quotes and why
I get so excited for every season, but I love the cosiness of autumn as it draws in during September and October. I’m already enjoying eating pumpkin spice-flavoured everything even though Savannah hasn’t cooled down too much yet, and spending evenings curled up with cups of tea and books, as well as exploring things to…
Continue reading ➞ Five things to read, listen to and watch for cosy autumn evenings
Carly Schabowski’s debut novel is a historical romance set during the Second World War, blending the worlds of the circus and Nazi-occupied Paris in a way that is both heart-breaking and hopeful.
Kerry Postle's latest historical novel follows the final twelve years of the life of Raphael the painter and explores his relationship with La Fornarina, Margarita Luti.
I’m absolutely thrilled to be sharing my review of a brilliant book that has just been published (three days ago!) as part of a blog book tour – Natalie Jenner’s debut novel, The Jane Austen Society. I’d like to thank St Martin’s Press for gifting me an advance readers’ edition to be able to have…
Continue reading ➞ Review & Blog Tour: “The Jane Austen Society”, by Natalie Jenner
What if Darcy never wrote the letter to Elizabeth after she rejected the proposal? Monica Fairview's novel explores just this, and throws a second chance at one of the best-loved fictional couples.
